This week's newsletter is huge, so I'll keep this as short as possible. So much has happened in the last week. Firstly, a huge welcome to new newsletter readers and Platinum members.

Only 10 sleeps to go! Christmas is here, and it's arrived very quickly. It feels like it's been Christmas for a very long time, perhaps that's why now it is here it's taken me a little by surprise. With shops having Christmas decorations out in early September I just kept telling myself I had plenty of time to plan and shop and wrap and cook. It's all done, and I'm enjoying the happiness of the season just like Heather (see below).

One thing that did stun me was a stat I read recently. According to an article in the Courier Mail (and there are a few others out there with similar stats) Australians are going to spend $50 BILLION on Christmas! (If you are interested that's a 100.5% increase in Christmas spending in just 7 years - back in 2010 the estimate was $24 billion.) Wow! And $20.2 billion of that will be on food and drink (again, doubled in just 7 years)! Now that figure really stunned me. How can a country with a population of just 24.6 million possibly spend that much money on food for just one holiday (an increase of 2.2million in 7 years - boy those extra 2.2 million sure do eat!)?

My $50 Christmas dinner plan still costs around $50, a little less if you are a savvy shopper. If things are tight you can have a wonderful Christmas dinner for just $25. For those of you who think that is just not possible I've worked out a menu for a three course Christmas dinner for 6 for under $80. And all three of these menus have all the trimmings. https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/budget-christmas-dinners.html

When you are planning your Christmas dinner menu remember: Christmas dinner is just one meal on one day of the year. Try to keep it in perspective and you will be able to stick to your budget.

Another thing that will help you stick to your Christmas gift budget is our Platinum membership gift certificates. I may be biased but I believe a Cheapskates gift certificate really is the gift that lasts the whole year long. You can order your gift memberships here. Remember though, they're only available until 20th December so you have under a week to order!

Not sure that a Platinum membership will really help you? Here is what some happy Cheapskaters have said about their Cheapskates Club membership:

"We love your website and it has been such a help to us during these hard economic times. You have opened our eyes to see that all we really need to do is look at the way we use our resources so that we get the best out of what we have. We are learning to be far more resourceful and live on far less. We are much happier and really look at what we need, rather than what we WANT. Thanks again”. LYN T.

"Dear Cath, after 11 years of being very involved with my children's school and running a small business and family of six, I have finally stepped down this week from the school role. I look forward to enjoying my youngest child's two years at Secondary school and improving our way of living, thanks to your suggestions. My goal next year is to wean myself off the big supermarket chain. We already grow some vegies, but plan to do more. I want to support the smaller businesses who often provide better service, products and variety than the big chains. I thought I would start with one food area, i.e. fruit and vegies, then more on to meat and fish with the plan to only need one shop for other basic products once a month. Thank you for your great site and your inspiration." JR

"Hi Cath, I just had to write and say thanks for so much encouragement and support this year. Thanks to the Cheapskates Club I am going back to full time work in my chosen career (irregular hours has made it difficult until now). I know that sounds odd, but I can go back to work because my husband is able to finally cut his hours back to part-time and stay at home with our three children. This wouldn't have been possible without the ideas and support of Cheapskates showing us how we could trim a little here and a little there until we were able to pay off all our debts (three CCs, a car loan and a personal loan). Now all we have left is the mortgage and we will have it paid off in four years and five months, sooner if we really try. Thanks again," FW

"Hi Cath, this is our first ever debt free, cashed up Christmas and you bet we are laughing! I've followed Cheapskates for three years and finally we have paid off the bills thanks to the Payment Push and cut up the credit cards (yes cards - we had five between us!). I followed the Own Your Own Christmas challenge, except I started it on the 26th December last year :) Every present under our tree was bought with cash and all the food was bought early, on sale (with cash) and is now in my pantry or the freezer. Now I'm sitting back, enjoying the peace, happy in the knowledge that we are having a debt free Christmas. I’m smirking a little, but only when my friends complain about how hard Christmas is! Heather Morgan

How Waiting in a Queue can Save You MoneyApproximate $ Savings: $10 upwards

When Big W and Target introduced the long que system rather than lining up at individual cash registers I did not like this change, however, I now prefer it as the longer wait in the que allows me to look at each item I'm holding and decide if I really need it or not. I sometimes decide at this point to leave items at the register rather than to purchase them, thus saving me money. Also, you can calculate the estimated cost so when you get to the cash register you are not as shocked.Contributed by Karen Smith

Rocky Road Christmas WreathFor a super impressive food gift or something WOW for those Christmas parties, make a rocky road base in a ring tin and top with white chocolate; then decorate with mint leaves and raspberry jubes to decorate. Very simple and very WOW!!Contributed by Melody Francia

Method:Grease an 8 cm x 26 cm bar cake pan; line base and two long opposite sides with baking paper, extending paper 5 cm above edges of pan. Using scissors, snip snakes into 2-cm lengths. Combine snakes with remaining ingredients in a large bowl; mix well. Spoon mixture into prepared pan, pressing mixture firmly with back of spoon. Cover refrigerate several hours or until set. To serve, stand for 10 minutes at room temperature before cutting into slices. I have also put some mixture into patty pans and once set turned them out and placed them upside down on a plate put some ice cream on the top for children who would not eat plum pudding at Christmas time. (From the Sweets and Lollies Recipe File)

Fancy Christmas Chocolate MarshmallowsI give homemade chocolates for presents. Chocolate covered marshmallows are always a hit and go a long way. Put Cadbury chocolate melts (check the grocery sales, they're often on half-price) into a ziplock bag and melt in the microwave in 5 second increments until the chocolate is melted. Lay out marshmallows on baking paper. Cut off the tiniest bit of the corner of the ziplock bag and you can then pipe stars, letters, flowers, or just squiggles on the top of the marshmallows. This makes a huge amount and can be portioned out or added to the table for a Christmas party. Best of all, there is no clean-up of the chocolate because it is already in the bag, and is great for kids to do as well!

This week's winning tip is from Lynne Adams. Lynne has won a one year Platinum Cheapskates Club membership for submitting her winning tip.

MOO Mini SandpitsI live in a Duplex unit with limited outdoor area, and when my small grandchildren come to play they are looking for something to keep them amused. I created two mini sandpits which require very limited maintenance (no erecting of a large sandpit $49.50, filling sandpit with up to 10 bags of play sand $78.50, and not to mention the labour to mow or whipper snipping around the sandpit).

My mini sandpits have been purchased from the Daiso store 2 x Desk tidy trays - $2.80 each and one bag of Bunnings Play Sand $7.85, which I expect is going to provide a minimum of 12 months' worth of top ups. All up a saving of $114.55 plus ongoing labour.

My mini sandpits keep my little ones amused, especially as I tend to find new treasures for them each week. Shells are a must and are free from the beach. Also, I found an unusual shaped spoon in my kitchen drawer for digging, some old earrings in my jewellery box for some sparkly treasure, and I also gave them a plastic ice cube tray which I no longer use. They spend hours filling the tray with sand and burying their treasures in the individual holes.

I like to keep their mini sand pits on an old shower curtain, then any spilt sand is shaken back into the boxes - very Cheapskate.

I hope you can try this idea, it's fun for them and for me trying to find new mini treasures each week. Existing toys take on a new life when you put for example, little plastic farm animals into the sand. Try hiding a treasure map in the sand and create a whole new game. The best part for the kids is that they are not sitting out in the blazing sun, the mini sandpits are transportable and are always placed in a shady area.

Congratulations Lynne, I hope you enjoy your Cheapskates Club membership.

The Cheapskate's Club website is over 2,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.

The Cheapskate's Club website is over 3,000 pages of money saving hints, tips and ideas. Let's get together and make the Cheapskates Club Australia's largest online hint, tip and idea library. Share your favourite money saving, time saving or energy saving hint and be in the running to win a one-year membership to The Cheapskate Club. We publish a Winning Tip each Thursday, so enter your great money, time or energy saving idea now.Share your favourite hint or tip that saves money, time and energy and be in the running to win a one-year subscription to The Cheapskate Journal.

Baked spaghetti pie is one of those dishes that you come to rely on, especially at busy times (like Christmas!). This recipe freezes, thaws and heats beautifully and is filling enough to be a one-dish dinner, or, if you need to stretch it or want to add to it, goes well with salad, wedges, and garlic bread. Enjoy it as is, or with one or all of the extras.

Method:Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve. In a large frypan over medium heat, brown mince and sauté onion, green capsicum and garlic; drain and return to frypan. Stir mushroom soup, water and tomato soup into frypan. Stir pasta into meat and soup mixture; mix together well. Spray a lasagne dish well with cooking spray. Spread the mixture over the dish, sprinkle with the grated cheese. Bake in a moderate oven for 25 - 30 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted and golden.

To freeze: Line a 20cm x 30cm lasagne dish with a layer of plastic wrap, a layer of foil and then a layer of baking paper, making sure each layer is large enough to wrap the dish. Spread the mixture into the baking dish; top with cheddar cheese. Fold baking paper over the top, then the foil and finally the plastic wrap. Freeze. Once the dish is completely frozen you can remove it from the baking dish, make sure the plastic wrap is tight and return to the freezer. To cook remove from freezer and thaw in the fridge. Remove the plastic wrap and foil. Place the baking paper wrapped pie into the baking dish. Bake in preheated moderate oven for 30 to 35 minutes; serve.

There are over 1,600 other great money saving meal ideas in the Recipe File.

7. The $300 a Month Food Challenge with Wendy

Christmas Day Menus

Good afternoon all. Welcome to a new week.

With Christmas just around the corner, I'm sure you have been very busy decorating your house and tree with special ornaments, table runners and candles. I've heard a few Cheapskaters planning their Christmas Day menus too. Although we want this special day to be perfect, it is so easy to go overboard with the food.

Providing two meats, a couple of salads or roast vegies and two or three desserts is all that is needed to satisfy the hungry souls at your table. The more you have to choose from, the more confusing it is for the eaters. How to fit it all on the plate? There is only so much you can eat at one meal and many people travel from table to table (family home to family home) in one day.

Also, the more you provide, the more likely you are to be left with leftovers for a week. To avoid gastro most foods should be consumed within two days of cooking. You are also less likely to forget what is left in the fridge if it is consumed within a small timeframe.

TRADITIONALroast lamb served in gravyroast chickenroast potatoes, pumpkin and carrotscauli and broccoli with white sauce and cheese on topmint saucesticky date puddings in muffin size with caramel sauce, cream and ice-cream

Both have been hugely successful, and everyone is full and satisfied. The casual meal had a lot more leftovers. We just ate salads and sausages for the next two days. The best thing about these meals is that I have most of those ingredients on hand already so there are no grocery blowouts. The only extra expense is the meat and a few vegies / salad things. The leg of lamb is bought in Spring when it's just over $7 a kilo and usually costs me under $20. Snacks are bought on sale in November and bon bons are bought at half price on Boxing Day the year before.

How are you going with your menu plan? Do you have any tricks to keeping your costs to a minimum?

Harmina writes"I am not very savvy at computer internet provider options. Does anyone have knowledge/experience choosing the cheapest network provider? The best for the least cost. Excuse my ignorance, but does one need to have a phone line to access the internet, or is there a better way now? Is it cheaper to have internet via modem or access via mobile phone; or is there another device that would be best? Does one have to have NBN or can we still choose? Any information would be useful. Thank you".

Do you have the answer?

If you can help Harmina, let us know. We'll enter your answer into our Tip of the Week competition, with a one-year membership to the Cheapskates Club as the prize too.

For just 10 cents a day you can join the Cheapskates Club and get exclusive access to the Cheapskate Journal, the monthly e-journal that shows you how to cut the costs of everyday living and still have fun.

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14. Contact DetailsThe Cheapskates Club -Showing you how to live lifedebt free, cashed up and laughing! ​